MOHALI: On World Health Day, Aryans Group of Colleges, Rajpura, Near
Chandigarh in association with Fortis Hospital, Mohali organised a webinar on this year
theme "Building a fairer, healthier world". Dt. Sonia Gandhi, Head, Clinical Nutrition and
Dietetics, Fortis Hospital interacted with the faculty members and Aryans students of
Engineering, Nursing, Pharmacy, Law, Management, Education and Agriculture & spoke on
“Good Nutition :- Need of the Hour”. Dr. Anshu Kataria, Chairman, Aryans Group presided
over the webinar.
Dt. Gandhi while interacting with the students said that in view to keep our immune
systems healthy during the corona virus pandemic, proper nutrition is an absolute must. The
immune system protects us from pathogens & the connection between the pandemic and our
dietary habits is undeniable, she said.
She said that Along with social distancing measures and effective vaccines, balanced
diet is a key towards healthily life. Although not a replacement for medicine, good nutrition
can work synergistically with medicine to improve vaccine effectiveness, reduce the
prevalence of chronic disease and lower the burden on the health care system, she motivated.
While answering the student’s questions she said that the food for COVID-19 patients
should be fresh and hot. Foods that are rich in antioxidants like leafy vegetables, carrot,
pumpkin and capsicum, food rich in Vitamin C, egg white for proteins and a handful of dry
fruits are recommended. Oily foods should be avoided or minimised as gastric reflex may
arise, she added.
It is to mention that since 1950, World Health Day has been celebrated on the 7th of
April of each year. The objective of World Health Day is to raise global awareness of a
specific health theme to highlight a priority area of concern for the World Health
Organisation (WHO).